Argentina Founder’s Tour 2023

Welcome to Argentina! Upon arrival (flight not included), we’ll meet our Exeter Latin America driver and English-speaking guide just outside baggage claim for the private transfer to the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires. Early check-in has been requested, but it not guaranteed. Please speak to your Exeter Latin America travel designer if you’d like to prepay the previous night to guarantee check-in on arrival.

Morning and early afternoon at leisure to settle in before we gather as a group.

We’ll gather in the lobby at 2 PM to start our exploration of Buenos Aires together, with a drive along Avenida del Libertador past some of the most opulent residences, built the Argentine elites in the early 20th century, and through historic Palermo with its multiple public parks. Then we’ll walk around the Retiro and Recoleta neighborhoods, where our guide will share insights into this country’s fascinating history as well as its contrasting architectural styles. To cap off this afternoon, we’ll explore the famous Recoleta cemetery, home to countless important figures of Argentina’s arts and political history, including Eva Peron.

On return to the hotel, we’ll have some time at leisure to freshen up before dinner.

We’ll gather for a welcome dinner this evening in of the top restaurants not far from our hotel.

Today we’ll explore the southern part of the historic city center. We’ll drive along the massive Avenida 9 de Julio past the towering Obelisco, originally constructed to celebrate the 400th-anniversary of Buenos Aires, and stop to walk around the main Plaza de Mayo Square, home to the iconic Casa Rosada presidential mansion and the site where mothers of people “disappeared” during the military dictatorship demonstrated for decades beginning in 1977.

Afterward, we’ll continue south to explore San Telmo, Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhood and site of a great Sunday market, as well as La Boca with its famous colored homes. To cap off today’s tour, we’ll have a VIP hosted visit to the Fabrica Colon, a new warehouse space offering a behind-the-scenes look at the sets and costumes of the Teatro Colon, one of the world’s top opera houses.

Lunch today will be at one of the city’s iconic parrillas, restaurants specializing in grilled meats and vegetables so closely associated with Argentina. After our late lunch, we’ll have some free time to explore before dinner tonight.

Tonight we’ll dine at the Rojo Tango at the Cabaret of the Faena Hotel in Puerto Madero, for a high quality, intimate show of this iconic Argentinian dance style.

This morning, we’ll be joined by the leading expert on Buenos Aires street art scene – among the most dynamic in the world – for a look at the city’s best works by both Argentine and top international artists. We’ll see murals across several neighborhoods and covering a wide range of Argentine politics and culture – everything from soccer and Maradona to tango, the military dictatorship of the 70s and 80s, and women’s rights. This is also a really terrific way to experience some off-the-beaten-path parts of the city!

Lunch is included today at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants in Buenos Aires.

After lunch, we’ll have a special expert-led visit to MALBA, the Museum of Latin American Art. The museum is home to the Constantini Foundation collection of more than 400 top works of painting, sculpture photography and engraving by the most important 20th-century Latin American artists including Diego Rivera, Tarsila do Amaral, Wilfredo Lam and Frida Kahlo. Perhaps the most famous work here is Kahlo’s Diego y Yo, which sold for a record-breaking $35 million in 2021.

Evening at leisure.

After checkout, we’ll depart to the domestic airport for our nonstop flight onward to Bariloche. (Flight not included.)

Upon arrival, our English-speaking guide and driver will welcome us to head straight into our exploration. San Carlos de Bariloche is a small mountain village that has garnered fame for its picturesque surroundings in the heart of the Lake District of northern Patagonia – and is the ideal base for our stay.

To kick off our time in northern Patagonia, we’ll enjoy an exclusive foodie experience today hosted by chef Lucas Mallmann, nephew of superstar chef Francis Mallmann). Lucas will welcome us to his casual family farm on the San Pedro Peninsula away from town, for a grilled meal of local trout, meat, fresh vegetables and of course Argentine wine!

After our late lunch, we’ll continue on to check-in at the famed Llao Llao Hotel, surrounded by Cerro Lopez and Tronador mountain peaks and Moreno and Nahuel Huapi lakes. Check-in and remainder of afternoon and evening free to settle in, explore the surrounding park or enjoy a spa treatment.

This morning after breakfast, we’ll depart to the nearby port to begin our private boat sailing on the bright blue water of Brazo Tristeza, the less visited branch of Nahuel Huapi lake, surrounded by the stunning mountainous landscape dotted with waterfalls. We’ll disembark for a nature-focused, easy walk through the rainforest along a creek before reaching the fascinating Arroyo Frey waterfall. On our way back to the boat, we’ll stop along the shore for a peaceful picnic lunch before boarding and returning back to port.

Arrival back at Llao Llao mid-afternoon, allowing time for independent exploration of the surrounding park or perhaps enjoy the views from your room’s terrace.

We’ll have dinner together tonight in one of our favorite restaurants in Bariloche.

Today we’ll venture out with our guide to explore a different yet equally impressive landscape in this region, first by vehicle and then crossing the Limay River on boat, in order to visit the Enchanted Valley. We’ll walk among tall volcanic rock formations and caves, enjoying beautiful views in every direction in this hidden part of Patagonia.

There will be both easy and moderate walk/hike options for our exploration today, before a traditional asado barbecue lunch al fresco. Arrive back at the hotel later this afternoon and evening at leisure.

After check-out, transfer to the Bariloche airport for our nonstop flight onward to Mendoza. (Flight not included.)

Upon arrival to Mendoza, our driver and local guide will welcome us as we exit the airport, for the transfer to Entre Cielos Hotel, a modernist hotel and wine estate just outside the city of Mendoza and which offers the best spa – and only hammam – in the region. Our rooms here are cozy lofts nestled among the vineyard, within just a peaceful 5-minute walk from the hotel’s main building. (Rooms in the main building are also available upon request; additional cost may apply.)

While in Mendoza, the largest wine producing region in Argentina known particularly for Malbec, you’ll have the opportunity to visit several wineries. As you can imagine, there are numerous options that can be combined together to create full days of winery visits, wine tasting and lunches and dinners in the various regions like Lujan de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. Once your trip is confirmed, we can share with you a list of some of our favorite wineries and also suggest others based on any specific interests and preferences you may have. We’ll of course book all your visits in advance for you, with all the details listed on your final itinerary.

To kick off our stay in Mendoza, we’ll be treated to a special, winemaker-hosted private dinner and wine pairing.

Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu, close to our hotel, are perhaps the best known parts of Mendoza thanks to the international prestige wineries here have gained. Malbec naturally is the most emblematic varietal produced here, but there are standout examples of others as well.

This morning after breakfast we’ll head to one of our favorite wineries here for a private, owner-hosted visit and tasting. Then, we’ll continue to our lunch at another top winery, with wine pairing.

Return to the hotel mid-afternoon and have some free time to enjoy our hotel and spa.

Today we will head further from Mendoza city to explore the Uco Valley, a relatively newer, high altitude subregion that is home to some of the region’s top winemakers and most innovative architecture.

We’ll again enjoy a private, winemaker-hosted tasting at one winery, followed by another amazing tasting menu lunch with wine pairing.

After a leisurely morning, check out and transfer to the Mendoza for our flight back to Buenos Aires for one final night in the Argentine capital. Exeter Latin America always recommends spending the last night in Buenos Aires, to ensure smooth connection to flights back to the U.S. (Flights not included.)

On arrival, our Buenos Aires guide and driver will welcome us back for the transfers to Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.

Tonight we’ll gather for our sommelier-hosted Farewell Dinner and wine pairing in one of the city’s top restaurants.

Before returning to the US tonight, we’ll have a day at leisure to explore Buenos Aires. Exeter Latin America will provide a number of suggestions for today, or we can arrange privately guided activities including specialist guides for shopping, visiting museums and art galleries, cooking classes and more.

Late afternoon/early evening transfers to the airport for flights back to the US.

Or, consider extending your trip with 3 nights at the incredible Awasi Iguazu Falls. Guaranteed late checkout of 6 PM at Park Hyatt can be arranged upon request, for an additional cost